complaints are like second hand smoke

Jon Gordon, author of The No Complaining Rule says "The more we look at something that can hurt us and kill us, we are programmed to be on guard against that."  . . But all of that whining comes with a cost. When we complalin, our brains release stress hormones that harm neural connections in areas used for problem solving and other cognitive functions.  This also happens when we listen to someone else moan and groan.  "It's as bad as secondhand smoke," Gordon says.  "It's second hand complaining."  Just as smoking is banned in most offices, one entrepreneur says he has banned complaning among his team members. He gives them one chance and if he catches them complaning a second time, that's it for them.

This is excerpted from an article at fastcompany.com. I share the link to the whole article  but the above excerpt is the essence of the article for me.

Here's link to the whole article:  avoid second hand complaints